One hundred camels (Camelus dromedaries) and fifty sheep and goats being adult, male, and apparently healthy field animals were studied to provide data regarding the normal values of some hepatic trace elements. Liver samples were collected during postmortem examination, digested, and analyzed for Cu, Zn, Fe, Co, and Mn using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results showed that the differences in mean liver concentrations of Cu, Zn, Fe, and Co between camels, sheep, and goats were statistically significant ( ). Hepatic Cu, Fe, and Co concentrations were higher in camels than in sheep and goats. All liver samples were adequate for Fe and Co, whereas only camel liver was adequate for Cu. In camels, hepatic Zn concentration was inadequately lower than that in sheep and goats. No difference in Mn concentration was detected between camels, sheep, and goats. All liver samples were inadequate compared to free-ranging herbivores. In camels, significant correlation ( , value = 0.04) was detected between Zn and Co, whereas in sheep significant correlation ( , value = 0.026) was detected between Zn and Mn. No significant correlation between trace elements was detected in goats. 1. Introduction Trace elements are involved as essential parts of many physiological activities such as energy production, enzyme activity, hormone production, collagen formation, vitamin and tissue synthesis, oxygen transport, and other physiological processes related to health growth and reproduction and their deficiency leads to wide variety of pathological consequences such as cardiac conditions in addition to immunological and hormonal dysfunctions and metabolic defects [1]. Trace elements deficiencies have negative impacts on the reproductive efficiency of farm animals. The importance of trace mineral nutrition has been recognized for quite some time; however, recent advances in understanding factors influencing trace mineral requirements and their supplementation potential benefits upon health and productivity are proposed by [2–4]. Camels, sheep, and goats are virtually the main source of subsistence for most of the people inhabiting the environmental region loosely referred to as arid and semiarid lands (ASAL) of the Sudan. A major constraint to animal production is the occasional drought; the long dry season, absence of legumes in natural pasture and rapid decline of forage quality of native grasses as the rainy season progresses, and high prevalence of endemic and metabolic diseases are factors contributing directly to low animal production. The traditionally raised
References
[1]
N. F. Suttle, The Mineral Nutrition of Livestock, CABI Publishing, London, UK, 4th edition, 2010.
[2]
J. E. Nocek, M. T. Socha, and D. J. Tomlinson, “The effect of trace mineral fortification level and source on performance of dairy cattle,” Journal of Dairy Science, vol. 89, no. 7, pp. 2679–2693, 2006.
[3]
J. L. Siciliano-Jones, M. T. Socha, D. J. Tomlinson, and J. M. DeFrain, “Effect of trace mineral source on lactation performance, claw integrity, and fertility of dairy cattle,” Journal of Dairy Science, vol. 91, no. 5, pp. 1985–1995, 2008.
[4]
J. W. Spears and W. P. Weiss, “Role of antioxidants and trace elements in health and immunity of transition dairy cows,” Veterinary Journal, vol. 176, no. 1, pp. 70–76, 2008.
[5]
L. R. McDowell, Minerals for Grazing Ruminants in the Tropical Regions, University of Florida Coop Extension Services, Gainesville, Fla, USA, 3rd edition, 1997.
[6]
R. L. Kincaid, “Assessment of trace mineral status of ruminants: a review,” Proceedings of the American Society of Animal Science, vol. 77, no. 1, pp. 1–10, 1999.
[7]
G. Tartour, “Copper status in livestock, pasture and soil in Western Sudan,” Tropical Animal Health and Production, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 87–94, 1975.
[8]
R. R. van der Veen, “A trace element survey in the Transkei,” South African Medical Journal, vol. 47, no. 8, pp. 344–347, 1973.
[9]
H. Khalifa, M. T. Fouad, Y. L. Awad, and M. E. Georgy, “Application of Fast Grey RA to the spectrophotometric determination of copper in liver of Egyptian camels,” Microchemical Journal, vol. 18, no. 5, pp. 536–542, 1973.
[10]
G. Tartour, “Studies on the metabolism of copper and iron in the camel,” Sudanese Journal Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, vol. 10, pp. 14–20, 1969.
[11]
H. Abu Damir, G. Tartour, and S. E. I. Adam, “Mineral contents in livestock in eastern Sudan,” Tropical Animal Health and Production, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 15–16, 1983.
[12]
A. O. Bakhiet, A. A. Mohammed, E. S. M. Siham, and M. A. Samia El Badawi, “Some trace-elements profile in the liver of camel, cattle, sheep and goats,” International Journal of Tropical Medicine, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 1–2, 2007.
[13]
Y. L. Awad and F. Berschneider, “Selenium content of internal organs of the camel (Camelus dromedarius),” Egyptian Journal of Veterinary Science, vol. 14, pp. 71–75, 1977.
[14]
H. Abu Damir, N. I. Eldirdiri, S. E. I. Adam, J. A. Howarth, Y. M. Salih, and O. F. Idris, “Experimental copper poisoning in the camel (Camelus dromedarius),” Journal of Comparative Pathology, vol. 108, no. 2, pp. 191–208, 1993.
[15]
J. Wensvoort, “Observations on the liver copper concentration and diet of race camels (Camelus dromedarius),” in Proceedings of the 1st International Camel Conference, pp. 319–322, Dubai, UAE, 1992.
[16]
R. M. Smith and H. R. Marston, “Some metabolic aspects of vitamin B 12 deficiency in sheep,” British Journal of Nutrition, vol. 24, no. 4, pp. 879–891, 1970.
[17]
L. R. McDowell, M. Kiatoko, C. E. Lang et al., “Latin American mineral research-Costa Rica,” in Proceedings of the 4th World Conference on Animal Production, L. S. Verde and A. Fernandez, Eds., pp. 39–47, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1980.
[18]
L. R. McDowell, J. H. Conrad, and G. L. Ellis, “Mineral deficiencies and imbalances and their diagnosis,” in Proceedings of the Symposium on Herbivore Nutrition in the Subtropics and Tropics, F. M. C. Gilchrist and R. I. Mackie, Eds., Pretoria, South Africa, 1984.
[19]
W. J. Miller, L. G. Martin, R. P. Gentry, and D. M. Blackmon, “65zn and stable zinc absorption, excretion and tissue concentrations as affected by type of diet and level of zinc in normal calves,” Journal of Nutrition, vol. 94, no. 3, pp. 391–401, 1968.
[20]
L. R. McDowell and J. H. Conrad, “Trace mineral nutrition in Latin America,” World Animal Review, vol. 24, pp. 24–33, 1977.
[21]
E. J. Underwood, Trace Elements in Human and Animal Nutrition, Academic Press, New York, NY, USA, 4th edition, 1977.